Telephone signal and recorder.



F. J. McGOWEN & K. W. THALHAMMER.

TELEPHONE SIGNAL AND RECORDER. I

APPLICATION FILED APR. 22. 1915.

1,224, 185 Patented May 1, 1917.

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TELEPHONE SIGNAL AND RECORDER.

APPLICATION men APR. 22. l9l5.

Patented May1,1917.

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ASSIGNORS- OF FIVE-TWELFTHS TO SAID MGGUWEN, ONE-FOURTH T0 SAID THAI:-HAMMER, AND ONE-THIRD T0 IDA R. FORBES, OF LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA.

TELEPHONE SIQNAL AND RECORDER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

. Patented May 1, 1317.

Application filed. April 22, 1915. Serial No. 23,000.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it lmown that we, FRANCIS J. Mo- GOWEN, a citizen of the UnitedStates, and KARL W. THALHAMMER, a subject of the Emperor of Austria,both residing at Los Angeles, in the county of Los Angeles and StateofCalifornia, have invented a new and useful Telephone Signal andRecorder, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to means for enabling a call or message to bereceived at a telephone subscribers station in the absence of the partycalled, and the main object of the present invention is to provide meansfor this purpose which will be self contained, so that it will becapable of operation independently of the subscribers telephone set.

Another object of the invention is to provide for sending an out signalover the calling line and immediately thereafter putting such callingline in connection with a recording device, to enable a message to berecorded.

The accompanying drawings illustrate our invention, and referringthereto Figure 1 is a plan view of the device, the

cover being removed.

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the telephone line relay, and the lockingand resetting means therefor.

Fig. 3 is a vertical section on line 33 in Fig. 1.

v Fig. 4 is a vertical section on line 44 in Fig. 1.

Fig. 5 is a side elevation of a supplementary circuit closing means forthe signal con trolling device.

The present invention comprises line relay means for receiving a callingcurrent from a telephone line, signal means set in operation by suchline relay means, for sending back to the calling station a signalcurrent indicating that the party called is out, and that a message willbe automatically received; and means also set in operation under controlof the line relay and of the signal means, for recording a messagereceived from the line.

All of the above-mentioned instrumentalities are preferably mounted in acase 1, which may be provided with a false bottom 1 below which arecontained a battery 2 and a condenser 3. Case 1 is provided withterminals 1 and 5 for connection to a telephone line; with terminals 6and 7 for battery 2; with terminals 8 and 9 for wires leading to atelephone receiver operating in connection with a recording instrument;and with terminals 10 and 11 for wires leading to the motor for suchrecording instrument. y

A line rela 12 mounted in the case 1, is provided wit armature lever 13,having armature 13, retracting spring 14; and back stop 15, saidarmature lever carrying an insulating block 16 which is adapted toengage contact springs 17 and 18 on an insulating support 19 and toforce such contact springs against contact pins 21 on springs 22 and 23,respectively, also mounted on support 19, said pins 21 extending throughholes 24 in said support. Locking means are provided for holdingarmature lever 13 in operated position, said means comprising a lookinglever 25 formed as an armature for a resetting magnet 26, and having ashoulder or hook 28 adapted to engage the outer end of armature lever 13to hold the same down; a retracting spring 30 for said lever 25 and aback stop 31 serving to normally hold lever 25 in position with aninclined face 32 at its upper end directly below the outer end of lever13, so that when lever 13 descends it will push lever 25 forward, byengagement with said inclined face, and permit said lever to catch undershoulder 28 Resetting magnet 26 also operates to control the recordingmeans, the armature 25 of said magnet being provided with an insulatingprojection 34 adapted, when the armature is attracted, to engagespring-contacts 35 and 36 on an insulating support 33, and to press thesame into contact, respectively, with pins 37 on spring contacts 38 and39, connected to control the recorder, as hereinafter described.

Means are provided, operating under control of line relay 12, forsending back "an out signal over the line. For this purpose we use asignal transmitter independent of the subscribers instrument. Any meansfor producing signal impulses in the line may means for energizing saidbell. Said circuit controlling means comprises a circuit closing metalsleeve 48 mounted on and insulated from a shaft 49, and coiiperatingwith two contact springs or brushes 53 and 53 to control the circuit ofbell 41, said sleeve being cut away at 55 to normally break theconnection. Shaft 49 is mounted in bearing member 49 and is operatedstep by step by pawl 51 on an armature lever 44, operated by magnet 47which is provided with retracting springs 46 and with back stop 45, andback contact 45. Circuit closer shaft 49 also carries an eccentric orcam 56 adapted to engage a lever 57 and to press a contact 58 on saidlever against a fixed contact 59, to close circuit to the operatingmagnet 47 independently of the armature of line relay 12. Lever 57 alsocarries an insulating projection 60 adapted to engage a spring contact61 to press the same into contact with a spring contact 62 to closecontact with the resetting magnet 26 aforesaid. A spring 57 returnslever 57 to normal position.

The telephonic recorder used in connection with this apparatus may be ofany suitable type, comprising for example, a motor 63, driving a recordcylinder 64 on which record is made by a recording means .65 operated bytelephonic receiving means 66, this recording instrument being-alsoprovided with the usual means for reproducing the sound represented bythe record. The circuit connections shown in Fig. 1 are suitable for usewith a central energy systemand areas follows: The telephone line,indicated at 68,69 is connected in the usual manner to a subscribersinstrument, including receiver 70, transmitter 71, hook lever 72, callbell 73 and the usual condensers and inductance means. The wires 68 and69 of the telephone line are also connected respectively, by taps 68 and69, to terminals 4 and 5'. Line relay magnet 12 is connected acrossthetelephone line, in shunt with the subscribers instrument, through aconnection including a cut-out switch 74 and condenser 3, thisconnection leading.

from terminal 4 by wire 77 to switch 74 and from said switch by wire 75to condenser 3 and thence by wire 75 to relay 12, whence wire 76 leadsto terminal 5. The out signal transmitter 40 is connected in a normallyopen branch,across the telephone line, leading from wire 75 to wire 80to contact 18, and from contact 23 through wire 81 to said transmitterand thence by wire 82 to-- line terminal 5. Another normally openbranchlead's' from wire 7 5, by wires 80 and 84 to contact 35, and fromcontact 38 through wire 86 to terminal 8 for the telephone of therecorder, said telephone being connected by wires 88 and 89 to terminals8 and 9. From terminal '9 a wire 90 leads to line terminal 5. A wireleads from wire 86 to magnet 26 and from said magnet a wire 87 leads towire 76 aforesaid. Battery 2 is connected by wires 54, 54 to theterminals 6 and 7. A wire 91 leads from battery terminal 6 to a wire 92connected to contact 61, the contact 62 being connected to wire 93leading to wire 87 connected to magnet 26, and the wire 86 connected bywire 85 to the other side of said magnet is connected to wire 94,leading to battery terminal 7. Magnet 26 is thus connected in a normallyopen circuit with the battery, through contacts 61 and 62, and in anormally open branch from the line, through contacts 35 and 36. Themotor 63 of the telephonic recorder is connected by wires 96,97 and 98with the terminals 10 and 11 and with an electric supply circuit 100,101. Terminals 10 and 11 are connected by wires 102 and 103 to thecontacts 36 and 39 controlled by magnet 26. Circuit for the signalcontrolling magnet 47 leads from battery terminal 6 through wire 91 tocontact 22, and from contact 17 by wire 106 to magnet 47, whence a wire107 leads to back contact 45', the armature lever 44 being connected towire 94 leading to battery terminal 7.. A supplementary circuit for thismagnet independent of the contacts 17 and 22, leads from wire 91, bywire 95 to contact 59 for lever 57, said lever being connected by wire111 to wire 106. Bell 41 is included in a branch controlled by circuitcloser 48, said branch leading from battery wire 91 through wire 114 tobell 41 and from said bell by wire 113 to brush 53, and from brush 53 bywire 115 to wire 94 leading back to battery.

A switch or push button 118 may be provided for closing a branchconnection 119, 120, between wires 77 and 86, and a branch connection121, 122 between wires 102 and 103, so that when switch 74 is open andthe subscriber is using his telephone in the usual manner, he may, byclosing switch 118 put the recorder 66 in connection with the line andstart it in operation to take down the conversation carried on over theline. A condenser 130 may be included in this connection.

The operation is as follows: When the device is not needed, the switch74 is opened,

and the telephone line is then in normal condition in all respects,calls being received and answered in usual manner. In case, however, thesubscriber wishes to receive calls automatically, for example, while heis absent from the ofiice or room in which the telephone is located, hewill close switch 74 and the device is then in condition for automaticreception and record of messages. If now a party calls the subscriber,either automatically or through a central operator, the calling current,being an alternating cur rent, passes through wire77, switch 74, wire75, condenser 3, wire 75,relay'12 and wire 13;)

- reaches 76 to line terminal 5. Energization of rela 12 causes itsarmature lever 13 to descen said lever being caught by detent hook 28and held downin position to cause insulating block 16 to press contacts17 and 18 against contacts 22 and 23 respectively. Current then passesfrom battery 2 through wire 54 to terminal 6, thence by'wire 91 tocontact 22, and from contact 17 by wire 106 to magnet 47, thence by wire107 to back contact and from armature 44 through wire 94 to batteryterminal 7, wire 54 and the other side of battery. Magnet 47 thenattracts its armature, breaking circuit at the back contact, and avibratory motion of the armature results, the circuit being, made andbroken at 45 and the pawl 51 on armature lever 44 operates the rotarycircuit closer 48 step by step, bringing the metal thereof under brush53 and closing circuit to the call bell 41, as follows: from battery 2to wire 91, thence by wire 114 to bell 41, and thence by. wire 113 tobrush 53, through sleeve 48, brush 53 and wire 115 to-wire 94 andbattery terminal 7. Bell 41 then rings continuously until member 48makes a complete revolution, bringing the insulating portion 55 undercontact 53. The sound waves set up by the operation of hell 41, operatethrough the transmitter 40 to send a signal to the line, current passingfrom line terminal 4 through wires 77 and 80 and contacts 18 and 23,closed at this time by operation of armature lever 13, thence by wire 81to transmitter 40 and from the transmitter by wire 82 to line terminal5. The impulses thus transmitted to the line notify the calling party,or, central, as the case may be, that the called party is out and that amessage will be automatically received. The charafter of this signal: issuch that it may be readily distinguished from a busy signal. In casethe call comes from central, the operatorwill notify the calling partythat the called party is out, but that he may leave a message. in casethe call is directly from a calling party, he will reco nize theresponse through the line as noti catiqn to the same efl'ect. He willthen speak his message into his transmitter, and the message thustransmitted over the line will be recorded as hereinafter explained. Ator about the time that circuit closer 48 has nearly completed itsmovement, the cam 56 on shaft 49 of said circuit closer operates lever57 to close contact at 61, 62 and current then flows from batteryterminal 6, through wires 91 and 92 to contact 61, and from contact bywire 93 to magnet 26, thence by wires 85 and 94 to battery terminal 7.Magnet 26 then draws armature 25 to close contact at .35, 38 and also at36, 39. This operation of lever 13 to normal position does not, bybreaking contact at 17 and 18, interrupt the circuit for magnet 47, forthe reason that contact pin 58 on lever 57 at this time closes withcontact 59 to establish a supplementary circuit for said magnet, asfollows: from wire 91 through wire 95 to contact 59 and from contactlever 57 by wire 111 to wire 106 leading to magnet 47. Magnet 47therefore continues to operate until the revolution of shaft 49 iscompleted, when cam 56 allows lever 57 to move to separate contacts 58,59. The signal controlling means are then re stored to normal positionand the operation of call bell 41 is stopped. Opening of con tacts 61and 62 does not, however, cause deenergization of magnet 26 for thereason that said magnet, when energized by action of battery 2, closescontact at 35, 38 by engagement of insulating projection 34 with contact35 and thereby establishes a retaining connection for itself, under thecontrol of the line current, as follows: from terminal 4 throughwires77, 75, 80 and 84 to contact 35 and from contact 38 through wires86 and 85 to magnet 26, thence by wires 87 and 76 to line terminal 5.For a moment the .battery 2 and the line battery, at central,

are on magnet 26 at the same time, and the connections must of course besuch that their efi'ects on the magnet are not in conflict. Magnet 26 issufiiciently sensitive to retain its armature by the action of linecurrent alone, when the battery current is removed by breaking contactat 61, 62, and the closure is therefore maintained at contacts 35 and 38and also at contacts 36 and 39, as long as there is current on the line,that is,'until the calling party hangs up. Closure at contacts 35, 38establishes a circuit from the line/to the recording telephone asfollows: from line terminal 4, through wires 77, 75, 80, and 84,contacts 35 and 38, wires 86 and 88 to telephone receiver 66 and thenceby wires 89 and 90 to line terminal 5. This connection is in shunt withthe magnet 26 and the latter must be of sufficient impedance to enabletalking current to pass effectively to the telephone receiver 66. At

the same time, closure of contacts 36,39 establishes energizingconnection for motor 63 of the recording instrument, from power line 100through wire 98, motor 63, wires 96, and 102, contacts 36 and 39, wires103 and 97 and resistance 117 to power line 101. The recording cylinderis thereby started in motion as soon as the recordin' telephone receiver66 is put in connection with the line, and immediately after theoperation of the signal transmitting means 41 and 40. The message spokenby the calling party after he has been notified that a message will bere ceived, is then recordedon the cylinder 64. When his message iscompleted and he hangs up his receiver, current ceases on the line andmagnet 26 releases its armature which then breaks circuit at 35, 38 andat 36, 39, thus restoring the normal conditions.

It will be noted that except at the time a call is being received'theonly connection to the line is through condenser 3, so that the normaloperation of the line is not interfered with.

What we claim is:

1. In a telephone signal and recorder, the combination with a telephoneline and a subscribers instrument permanently connected thereto, of abranch line connected to the telephone line and including a normallyopen switch and a relay magnet, a

signal transmitting means, independent of the subscribers instrument andnormally disconnected from the telephone line and from said branch line,means controlled by said relay magnet for operating said signaltransmitting means for a predetermined time, and means controlled bysaid relay magnet for putting said signal transmitting means inconnection with said telephone line for sending a signal back over saidline.

2. In a telephone signal and recorder, the combination with a telephoneline and a subscribers instrument permanently connected thereto, of abranch line connected to said telephone line and including a normallyopen switch, a condenser and a relay magnet, a signal transmittingmeans, independent of the subscribers instrument and normallydisconnected from the said telephone line and from said branch line,means controlledby said relay magnet for operating said slgnaltransmitting means for a predetermined time, and means controlled bysald relay magnet for putting said signal transmitting means inconnection with said branch line for sending signals back over thetelephone line. v

3. In a telephone signal and recorder, the combination with a telephoneline and a subscribers instrument connected thereto, of a branch lineconnected to said telephone line and including a normally open switchand a relay magnet, a telephone transmitter normally disconnected fromthe telephone line, means controlled by said relay magnet for puttingsaid transmitter in connection with said telephone line, an electricbell ad- ]acent to said telephone transmitter, an operating circuittherefor including. a source of current and a normally open circuitcloser and means controlled by said relay magnet for closing saidcircuit closer for a predetermined time on operation of said relaymagnet. I I

4. In a telephone signal and recorder, the combination with a telephoneline and a subscribers instrument permanently connected thereto, of abranch from said telephone line including a normally open switch and arelay magnet, a telephone {receiver and a recorder for recording themessages received by said receiver, means controlled by said' relaymagnet for operating said recorder and for putting said telephonereceiver in connection with said telephone line, a sec-v fond switch andcircuit connections controlled thereby for energizing said recorderoperating means and for putting the said telephone receiver inconnection with the line, independently of the ,first named switch, andindependently of the operation of said relay magnet.

5. In a telephone signal and recorder, the combination with a telephoneline and a subscribers instrument connected thereto, of a branchconnection from said telephone line, including a. relay magnet, anarmature for said magnet, locking means for holding said armature inoperated position, means for restoring said armature to normal positionwhen released from said locking means, a signal transmitting meansindependent of the subscribers instrument, means controlled by saidarmature for operating said signal transmitting means for a predetermined time, releasing means controlled by the operation of said signaloperating means, to release said locking means on completion ofoperation of the signal transmitting means, means controlled by the saidarmature for putting said signal transmitting means in connection withthe telephone line, a phonographic recording device and means controlledby said releasing means to put said phonographic recording dev1ce inconnection with the telephone line on operation of said releasing means.

6. In a telephone signal and recorder, the

combination With a telephone line, of a branch circuit connected theretoand including a relay magnet, an armature for said magnet, provided withmeans for restoring it to normal position, a locking armature providedwith means for engaging the armature of said relay magnet to hold thesame in operated position and with means for restoring said locking.armature to normal position to engage the relay magnet armature, areleasing magnet adapted to operate said locking armature to release therelay magnet armature, signaling means,

means controlled by said relay magnet armature for operating saidsignaling means and for putting said signaling means in connection withthe telephone line, and means controlled by the operation of saidsignaling means for energizing said releas ing magnet on completion ofsuch operation. 7; In a telephone signal and recorder, the

combination with a telephone line, of a relay '125 responsive to currentin said line, a signal means controlled by said relay to signal backover the line, a telephonic recording means, and means controlled bysaid relay to put the telephonic recording means in connection With theline, and to interrupt the connection of the telephonic recording meanswith the telephone line when current ceases on the said line.

8. In a telephone signal and recorder, the combination with a telephoneline, of a relay magnet responsive to current on said line, a signalmeans, a signal controlling means controlled by said relay and adaptedto operate said signal means for a predetermined time, means controlledby said relay to put said signal means in communication with thetelephone line, to signal back over the line, a telephonic recordingdevice, electromagnetic means controlled by said signal means to put thetelephonic recording device in connection with the telephone line, and aconnection from said electromagnetic means to the line, closed byoperation of said electromagnetic means, so

that the telephonic recording means will be maintained in communicationwith the line While current is maintained in the line.

In testimony whereof we have hereunto set our hands, at Los Angeles,California, 25

this 14th day of A ril 1915.

FRAN IS J. MCGOWEN. KARL W. THALHAWR.

